Bradford City Women produced another goal-fest for their home fans on Sunday, putting four past an in-form Leicester side.
It was a game of leaving the past in the past, with a 4-1 home win a surprise when looking at the recent results of both teams.
Bradford came into the game having lost their last two, while Leicester had won their last three.
However, all that was on the minds of the home players was the present – getting three points on the day.
Every ball was fought for, every second ball was reacted to and every player put in the tireless shift needed to get the win.
There’s no doubt that City’s quick fire start played a significant part in the victory. With only two minutes on the clock, Rosie McDonnell’s corner was headed in by Hannah Campbell, and the Bantams were on their way.
Leicester grew into the game as it went on, but they never really troubled Bradford too much and, after Ellie Olds hit the bar, an own goal would double their lead.
Olds ran the show in the centre of midfield and would earn herself the team’s Player of the Match award, but no player embodied the fight back spirit more than Laura Elford.
As City have endured a tough start to the new season, Elford has failed to get the goals that her hard work has deserved since her step up to the first team from the reserves.
But that was not in her head today, just like back-to-back defeats weren’t bothering City.
Just before the break, Elford was on her toes to tap in a rebound from close range, and then she produced a first time wonder strike in the second period to take it to 4-0.
The frustrations of last Sunday’s defeat to Derby, and the added insult to injury of Wednesday’s loss in Huddersfield, were all channelled in a positive manner in this terrific bounce back performance.
Leicester did manage to get their names on the scoresheet, but it was a mere consolation to narrow things down to 4-1 in a game controlled by the hosts.
After downing Stoke City 5-1 at home two weeks ago, Bradford are making Eccleshill United a more and more difficult place to visit, after a few difficult performances there to start the season.
Now, it’s about taking that into their away performances in a bid to earn their first win on the road of the season – starting next week, away at Crewe Alexandra in the FAWPL Plate competition.
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